'He is a true hero, and he died protecting his community'

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BREMERTON, Wash. -- Saturday marks one year since the murder of Washington State Patrol trooper Tony Radulescu, and on Friday a memorial was unveiled in his honor at the state patrol regional headquarters.

In the pouring rain, fellow troopers, family and friends of Radulescu gathered for the unveiling of a monument in his honor.

"For we lost a great man," WSP Chief John Batiste said.

What appeared to be a routine traffic stop last February turned deadly when convicted felon Joshua Blake shot and killed Radulescu. Blake killed himself later that day after getting help from others running from police.

Friday was especially difficult for Radulescu's fiance, Gina Miller. Miller was ready to marry the 16-year WSP veteran, who was an immigrant from Romania who spoke five languages.

"It seems very surreal," Miller said. "I still wait for Tony to come home. I still wait for him to call."

Even in her grief, Miller wanted to be at the ceremony, along with Radulescu's son, Erick.

"It gets harder all the time because it just keeps setting in more and more that there's not that fall-back anymore. He was a really big part of my life," Erick said.

Erick helped pass the Blue Alert law shortly after his dad was killed. Similar to an Amber Alert, it alerts the community when an officer is down.

"He is a true hero, and he died protecting his community," Miller said at the ceremony.

Organizers chose to put the monument at WSP headquarters so it will be a constant reminder to fellow troopers to always be on alert.